Chattooga County Schools Adopts New Promotion, Placement, and Retention Policy

The Chattooga County Board of Education approved Superintendent Hosmer’s recommendation to update Policy IHE, Promotion and Retention. As required, item has laid since the December 17, 2020 meeting, to allow for public input.

Promotion, placement, and retention for the Chattooga County Board of Education policy for the 2020-2021 school year will follow the recommendation of the Georgia Department of Education to enact a flexibility waiver to promote or retain a student with input from teachers and parents, placement committees, class performance, and formative tools to determine the need to promote or retain students at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

Student promotion or retention will not be based on 2020-2021 performance on the Georgia Milestones assessment.

The Board of Education of Chattooga County acknowledges that the awarding of grades and all decisions relative to promotion, placement and retention are serious responsibilities. Promotion, Placement and Retention Policy (IHE) outlines appropriate pupil progression and provides additional information based
Board Policy Manual Chattooga County Schools
Policy IHE: Promotion and Retention

The Board of Education adopts this policy in accordance with O.C.G.A. $20-2-282 through $20-2-285 (Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Policy) that bases the placement or promotion of a student into a grade, class or program on an assessment of the academic achievement of the student and a determination of the education setting in which the student is most likely to receive instruction and other services needed in order to succeed and progress to the next higher level of academic achievement.
The Superintendent and appropriate staff shall develop rules and regulations governing promotion, placement, and retention of students in grades K-12. Such rules and regulations shall include the following requirements:
A: Local board policy for the 2020-2021 school year will follow the recommendation of the Georgia Department of Education to enact a flexibility waiver to promote or retain a student with input from teachers and parents, placement committees, class performance, and formative tools to determine the need to promote or retain students at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
Student promotion or retention will not be based on 2020-2021 performance on the Georgia Milestones Assessment.
1. Definitions consistent with those contained within State Board Rule 160-4-2-.11 Promotion, Placement and
Retention.
2. Students shall be tested in accordance with requirements specified in State Board Rule 160-3-1-.07 Testing
Programs – Student Assessment.
3. The promotion of students in grades 3, 5, and 8 shall be determined in accordance with state Board Rule 160
4-2-.11 Promotion, Placement and Retention that requires those students to achieve grade level on the state adopted assessment(s).
4. The promotion of students in grades 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 shall be determined by an administrative process led by
the principal or designee. Promotion of such students shall be based on a review of factors specified within the district’s rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, the student’s performance on the state-adopted assessment(s).
5. The school principal or designee shall utilize the results of the state-adopted assessment(s) as specified in this
policy in determining (a) the overall academic achievement of students; (b) an appropriate plan of accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction for students who do not achieve grade level; and (c) placement (with specific recommendations), promotion, or retention of a student.
6. Local promotion criteria which have been determined by the Board to be as follows:
a. Kindergarten: First grade placement decisions are made on an individual basis, using the Georgia
Kindergarten Assessment Program (GKIDS) results in concert with teacher recommendations, Chattooga County Schools Non-Negotiables, and other relevant information.
b. Grades 1-5: The student’s teacher shall review the student’s overall academic achievement, including the
state-adopted assessment, and the Chattooga County Schools Non-Negotiables and make a recommendation to the principal, consistent with State Board Rule and this policy, as to whether the student should be promoted or retained based on a determination that as a result of such promotion or retention, the student is likely to perform at grade level by the conclusion of the next school year. The principal, in consultation with the grade level teachers and with input from the Student Support Team as appropriate, shall make a decision as to whether the student will be promoted or retained.
C. Grades 6-8: The student’s grade level team of teachers shall review the student’s overall academic
achievement, including the state-adopted assessment, and make a recommendation to the principal, consistent with State Board Rule and this policy, as to whether the student should be promoted or retained based on a determination that as a result of such promotion or retention, the student is likely to perform at grade level by the conclusion of the next school year. The principal, in consultation with the grade level team and with input from the Student Support Team as appropriate, shall make a decision as to whether the student will be promoted or retained.

Motion to approve was made by Dr. Houston with a second by Mr. Hayes and the vote was unanimous.